Hi, I'm Stephen!

My name is Stephen Lang, and I'm the owner of Athena's Anime Figure Shop.

I started Athena's Anime Figure Shop because I wanted to build something of my own around something I genuinely enjoy. What started as an idea between two friends eventually turned into a small business, and I'm excited to share that journey with you.

How we got our name!

Before the business ever existed, there was one problem I spent weeks trying to solve: What am I going to call it?

I wanted the name to feel personal, while also capturing what the store was about. At the time, I had become pretty obsessed with Greek mythology, so I started playing around with different Greek names and trying to combine them with references to anime and collecting.

I went through plenty of ideas, but nothing really felt right.

Then one day, I looked at my dog, Athena.

And it just clicked.

Athena is not only a name from Greek mythology, but the name of a very important part of my life. Combining that with what I wanted the business to be a place centered around anime figures and collecting gave me Athena's Anime Figure Shop.

From a Love of Anime to Athena's Anime Figure Shop

After working in retail for many years, I eventually found myself feeling burned out by the job over time, the work became less and less rewarding. I wanted to build something that I could be passionate about something where the work I put in was ultimately going toward something that belonged to me.

Around that time, a friend and I started talking about starting a business together as a way to move on from our current jobs. We came up with all kinds of ideas, including the possibility of opening a PC café. As we talked about what that business could become, I had another idea: why not sell anime figures and collectibles in the café?

That idea stuck with me.

Unfortunately, my friend eventually decided he would be moving quite a distance away, and our plans for the PC café fell through. But rather than giving up on the idea of starting my own business, I started thinking about whether I could do something on my own.

That's when I realized: I could open an anime figure store.

Why Anime Figures?

I've always loved going to anime conventions. One of my favorite parts of attending conventions was walking through the vendor halls and seeing all the anime figures and collectibles on display. I loved discovering new figures, finding characters I liked, and bringing something home for my own collection.

Eventually, I started thinking about what it would be like to be on the other side of that experience to be the person behind one of those booths, sharing products I was excited about with other anime fans.

I didn't have the money to jump straight into opening a physical store, though. So I decided to start small and build from there.

I got my business licenses, opened a business credit card, started researching distributors and suppliers, and began figuring out how I could build a legitimate anime figure business from the ground up.

I built the website, opened an eBay store, and began selling online while also looking for opportunities to participate in vendor events and conventions.

And that's how Athena's Anime Figure Shop began.

Building Something of My Own

Starting a small business has definitely been a learning experience. There's a lot more that goes into running a store than simply putting products on a shelf. From finding reliable suppliers and managing inventory to packing orders, building the website, attending events, and figuring out how to reach new customers, I've had to learn a little bit of everything along the way.

But that's also what makes it rewarding.

Every order, every customer, and every event is a small step toward the bigger vision I have for Athena's Anime Figure Shop.

Right now, we're an online store and vendor business. But I don't want to stop there.

The Future of Athena's Anime Figure Shop

One day, I hope to open a physical location where anime fans and collectors can come in, browse figures in person, discover new series, and hopefully find that same excitement I felt walking through convention vendor halls.

I'd also love to eventually participate in larger anime conventions and bring an even bigger selection of figures and collectibles directly to fans.

That future is still a work in progress, but every order and every customer helps move the business a little closer to getting there.

Thank You for Being Part of the Journey

If you've purchased from Athena's Anime Figure Shop, followed us online, stopped by one of our vendor events, or even just browsed the website, thank you.

You're not just supporting another online store. You're helping a small business grow from an idea into something bigger.

I'm excited to see where this journey takes us, and I hope you'll be part of it.

Thank you for supporting Athena's Anime Figure Shop!